Abstract: ThermoPack, A Java Package
for Thermodynamic Properties
Subrata (Sooby) Bhattacharjee
Mechanical Engineering Department		 Parent Page
Engineering is an object-oriented world. Engineers routinely build complex systems by connecting simpler objects together. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) makes that possible in the world of software. Unfortunately, thermal system software are still being written in FORTRAN with a structural approach. If we are to exploit the modern hardware, the teraflop-class, massively parallel computers, the thermal transport software has to be upgraded to take advantage of the modern software technology and the world-wide-web revolution, which makes it possible for programmers to cooperate across the globe on a single project.

Almost all problems in Engineering Thermodynamics are governed by three generalized rate equations for mass, energy and entropy. Depending on the type of problems, these equations simplify to different extents. The simplified rate equations coupled with look-up tables for material properties constitute the central part of problem solving. By applying OOP methodology, it is possible to develop generalized property and equation modules. Using a network of HTML pages, an user can be guided to the right combination of equation module and property module needed to solve a given problem. An expert system, capable of solving most empirical problems found in undergraduate Thermodynamics texts, ranging from air conditioning to combustion, is being developed.

The new, object-oriented, architecture neutral, Internet friendly, programming language Java provides an ideal platform for development of a thermal class library. The expert system in thermodynamics (TEST) will be presented as an example of the power of the OOP methodology applied to engineering.

This research is being conducted in collaboration with Professor Roger Whitney of Computer Science Department, SDSU.